Shoe-fastener.



E. E. HILLS.

SHOE FASTENER. APucATloN FILED Dsc. 15. 1917.

92??,4 l 7; Patented Sept. 3, 1918,

Wl TIVESSES fl/VEN T03 ERNEST E. HILLS, OF MEDINA, WISCONSIN.

SHOE-FASTENER.

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Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, i913.

Application led December 15, 1917. Serial No. 207,253.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST E. HILLs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Medina, in the county of Outagamie and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in shoe fasteners, and has for its object to provide a faste-ner of the character specified for connecting the flaps of a shoe, which will simulate the usual lacing, and wherein a series of' clasps is provided for each flap, each clasp consisting of a substantially U-shaped member or yoke comprising a body and arms, the arms of each yoke having eyelets for engaging the eyes of the flap, and the bodies of the yokes having interengaging means for connecting said yokes.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a shoe showing the fastener in use;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a clasp of one series;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a clasp of the other series; Y

Fig. l is a cross-section through the united clasps shown in Fig. l.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with the flaps l and 2 of a shoe 3, the clasps being connectedwith the eyelets 4 of the flaps.

The clasps are arranged in two series, one series being connected with each flap, and the clasps 5 and 6 of the series are substantially U-shaped members or yokes, each comprising a body and arms extending at approximately a right angle from the body. The arms of each yoke have eyelets 7 for engaging the eyes 4' of the flaps, and these eyelets are adapted to be upset in the usual permanently connect the clasps manner to with the iaps.

The body of the clasp 6 has a bead 8,

formed by rolling an extension from the body upon itself, and the body of each clasp 5 has a hook 9 for engagement by the bead of the adjacent clasp 6.

In use, the fiaps of the shoes are provided with the clasps, and when it is desired to Connect the flaps, the beads 8 of the clasps 6 are engaged with the hooks 9 of the clasps 5. Then the shoe is completely laced, the arms of the clasps will simulate the laces, and Jthe interengaging mechanism between the series of clasps will be a line at the center of the spiace between the flaps. lVhile permitting t e quick attachment and detachment of the flaps, the fastener very closely resembles the usual lacing.

I claim:

l. In combination with a shoe, a fastener for the flaps, said fastener comprising a series of clasps for each flap, each clasp being a yoke comprising a body and arms extending at approximately right angles to the body, the arms having eyelets for engaging the eyes of the flaps and the bodies having interengaging means for connecting the series, the bodies of one series having beads and the bodies of the other series having hooks for engaging the beads, said beads and hooks extending approximately the full length of the body.

2. A fastener for shoe flaps, comprising a series of clasps for each flap, each clasp being yoke shaped and comprising a body and arms extending at approximately right angles to the body, the bodies of the clasps ofone series having beads and the bodies of the clasps of the other series having` hooks for engaging the beads, the beads and hooks of the clasps extending the full length of the bodies, and the hooks being open and unobstructed at the ends of the body.

ERNEST E. HILLS.

Vitnesses:

H. S. RUPPEL, CI-rAs. KNAAGH.

@unica of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatenta,

Washington, D. C. 

